Photoshop

I do love Photoshop - and Lightroom for that matter. Amazing programmes which I am just scratching the surface of. But, I am getting better and I'm very pleased with the photo that I've added as the title bar. The unedited version is below. And no, Max (who is only 4) is not a gay musketeer - it's just that his sister likes to dress him up.

Metro

Dubai has finally joined the exclusive global club of cities with a Metro. With much fanfare a very limited service started on 09/09/09 at, predictably, 09.09pm. Sheikh Mohammed looked justifably proud as he opened it and took the first official ride.

Only 10 stations are open and only 6 trains per hour are running at the moment. The rest of the stations won't open until next February, but it is impressive that it has been built so quickly. I spent many years working on the Jubilee Line Extension and know how difficult a task it is to introduce a new rail system.

There is a lot of local interest in it, but it isn't clear yet how it is going to be useful to the majority of residents. Although they have laid on parking and feeder buses, it is very hard to compete with the car in such a hot climate and where there is a fast motorway running alongside the route.

I was in the Mall of the Emirates this evening and thought I'd go and have a ride and take some photos now that the novelty has worn off. Unfortunately, it was all a bit chaotic. I couldn't figure out how to pay and the queues were too long for me to be bothered. Instead, I got back in the car and went to practice some night photography on the beach next to the Burj al Arab.

To Let

At this time last year we were looking for a villa to rent near the new school in Jumeirah. For weeks I drove miles and miles, up and down all the streets in the area trying to find a 'To Let' sign. The few that did have a sign wanted more money than most people earn in a year.

Now, one year on, the change could not be more marked. On a short 5 minute walk to the supermarket last night I spotted 7 'To Let' signs and it is noticeable driving around the area that more and more properties are coming on the market.

Prices have fallen too - in some places they have almost halved in a year. No doubt this is a combination of the slowdown, people leaving and the large number of apartments and villas being finally completed. I'll be going to see my landlord and ask for a rent cut - if he won't agree then we'll probably have to move.

PS give that number above a ring - it's a nice villa opposite the Chinese Consulate and I'm curious how much rent they want.